A little confused... feelin lost

[hayzer]

New to the forum a little background on me:

I was baptised when i was younger and i was raised by my two very loving parents who did not preach to me about anything religious. We went to church a few times when i was younger which gave me a little understanding about the catholic religion. My parents then let me grow up and make my decision about what i believe in for myself. I went through different stages through high school and now university where i did believe in god and then to the point where i became sceptical that god exists. I blame this scepticism on the fact that over the last 4 years i've been studying engineering where my mind has been molded to a certain way of thinking that needs facts to support questions or theories, therefore if no hard evidence is present to support things they are not relevent.

More recently i've been feeling very lost and empty in this world even though i have a lot to be thankful for (loving parents and siblings, money is not a problem, i have a blossoming career, great set of many friends, very nice roof over my head, and very fit and healthy). Around january i was feeling this way and then i met a christian girl that later became my girlfriend. We had an amazing time together and i felt a little more found even though this confusion still arouse from time to time. We recently broke up and now i feel that i'm back at square one again. She told me that i have to be happier with myself and develop a better relationship with god. She said reading the stories about jesus and god in the bible will help me understand who god is and therefore communicate with him better.

Now i'm in the current state where i'm feeling unhappy that i lost this girl and i'm confused and questioning what to believe in and what i have to do in my life to be happy with my current self. I definately know through proof of some previous events in my life that there is some overseeing power/force that is unexplained to me at the moment and i really want to figure it all out. My dad told me the other day that all this engineering training that i've been through molded my mind into a mind that has to analyze and figure out every single little aspect of just about everything i come across. He said that i just have to accept things and i dont always have to figure out everything, just let it be and be happy.

So what would u say i should do currently to be happy with my current state?

 

[Stinker]

I had no Bible instruction growing up. When I got out on my own I bought a red-lettered New Testament and just started reading the 4 Gospels.

I think if there is a spiritual need, and it is filled, the psychological and emotional components will follow suit.

 

[Johnnz]

You are an educated, mature young man. You need a robust faith that does not deny either of those factors. Many churches do not provide tehir young people with good reasons to believe, or the tools and content to develop an intelligent faith.

Get reading and listening to some good Christian material. PM about this if you want to.

John
NZ

 

[hayzer]

You are an educated, mature young man. You need a robust faith that does not deny either of those factors. Many churches do not provide tehir young people with good reasons to believe, or the tools and content to develop an intelligent faith.

Get reading and listening to some good Christian material. PM about this if you want to.

John
NZ

Where should I look? What would u suggest I read first?

 

[ephraimanesti]

She told me that i have to be happier with myself and develop a better relationship with god. She said reading the stories about jesus and god in the bible will help me understand who god is and therefore communicate with him better.
My dad told me the other day that all this engineering training that i've been through molded my mind into a mind that has to analyze and figure out every single little aspect of just about everything i come across. He said that i just have to accept things and i dont always have to figure out everything, just let it be and be happy.

So what would u say i should do currently to be happy with my current state?

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Were i you, i would follow the advice given you by your ex-girlfriend and your father--both seem to have a good handle on your needs and both have provided you with wise counsel.

MAY YOU BE BLESSED AND LED TO THE TRUTH--which can alone be found in Christ, and which alone can bring you happiness.

MUCH LOVE IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[cm24]

I would reccomend reading "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. It is a book that answered a lot of questions for me.

The very fact that you are posting here and asking these kinds of questions tells me that God is calling you, as he has called all Christians.

A very good rescource for Catholics (if you like reading) is the Luke E. Hart on-line course offered by the Knights of Columbus. It is under the catholic information service link on their web site.

Also, a student bible helps me to understand more of what I read.

Those are my suggestions, and good luck!

 

[Endure2]

hayzer

man, i think the mind makes blurry, and the heart makes very clear. i lost my faith in God and when i looked deep inside, it led me away from religion.
and now its clear for me.

what do you need to do in order to be happy?
i dont know... what do you need to do in order to find out who you really are what you really want? listen to your heart man... its sincere... whatever its saying is true to you.
and once you do that...be strong and go after it.
ya know?

i know how confusing these things can be... dont let every instance of feeling down get to you... it passes.
but i know it can be hard, especailly when you dont know whats real anymore. but listen to your heart, i think it sheds more light than anything else. i know its a simple answer, but maybe if you calm down and listen to your heart...somethings may clear up for you.

i do think, be over analytical can be bad, becuase your applying techicalities to something that isnt technical at all, the happiness in your life that comes from inside.
not the realm of the mind.
ya know?

 

[Deb7777]

New to the forum a little background on me:

I was baptised when i was younger and i was raised by my two very loving parents who did not preach to me about anything religious. We went to church a few times when i was younger which gave me a little understanding about the catholic religion. My parents then let me grow up and make my decision about what i believe in for myself. I went through different stages through high school and now university where i did believe in god and then to the point where i became sceptical that god exists. I blame this scepticism on the fact that over the last 4 years i've been studying engineering where my mind has been molded to a certain way of thinking that needs facts to support questions or theories, therefore if no hard evidence is present to support things they are not relevent.

More recently i've been feeling very lost and empty in this world even though i have a lot to be thankful for (loving parents and siblings, money is not a problem, i have a blossoming career, great set of many friends, very nice roof over my head, and very fit and healthy). Around january i was feeling this way and then i met a christian girl that later became my girlfriend. We had an amazing time together and i felt a little more found even though this confusion still arouse from time to time. We recently broke up and now i feel that i'm back at square one again. She told me that i have to be happier with myself and develop a better relationship with god. She said reading the stories about jesus and god in the bible will help me understand who god is and therefore communicate with him better.

Now i'm in the current state where i'm feeling unhappy that i lost this girl and i'm confused and questioning what to believe in and what i have to do in my life to be happy with my current self. I definately know through proof of some previous events in my life that there is some overseeing power/force that is unexplained to me at the moment and i really want to figure it all out. My dad told me the other day that all this engineering training that i've been through molded my mind into a mind that has to analyze and figure out every single little aspect of just about everything i come across. He said that i just have to accept things and i dont always have to figure out everything, just let it be and be happy.

So what would u say i should do currently to be happy with my current state?

Hi Hayzer, welcome, it looks like the Lord is tugging at your heart to get to know him better. The Lord indeed wants to have a relationship with you and like the Apostles he calls at the most unexpected times. You're living the typical life of existence but there is a whole nother life out there that you must enter by the soul. You are created for God and your soul will never be satisfied unless God is within. When people do not fill their soul with God and the things of God they become tied down to the created instead of the uncreated. The created has its limits but the uncreated has no limits and your soul does know the difference because it will go beyond the average, everyday life and enter in to a spiritual realm that it did not know was possible but now experienced. Where to start, good Christian reading, starting to get to know more of a spiritual life from those who have been on the journey, lots of good meditations from the Saints. I have a Catholic meditation thread on the daily devotions sections that you will find some good insights from the Saints by the words and even more by their actions and witness to the God within them. God who is within will not be hidden in the world but will touch the places of your life with his presence and consolation in difficulties. God makes a huge difference to ascend to higher places and understanding. Pray to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, together and separate, asking to know better the things of the spirit and to have a closer relationship with your Creator. Your most welcome on the Catholic forum here in the congregation section and of course, go to Mass. You might see if they have any kind of classes to learn better the faith ,that was a huge help to me. If you have a monastery near by that is an awesome experience to be in the presence of many who are deep in the spiritual world. You might consider taking a retreat, another great help to foster understanding, I hope you pursue to know more of the spiritual realm that your soul can feast on, God bless.

 

[Johnnz]

Where should I look? What would u suggest I read first?

An excellent book to begin with is Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy. It is well reasoned, puts many important issues into some perspective and has a throrough bibliography.

There are three good web sites if you have broadband.

veritas.org - American
bethinking.org - British
rzim.org - the site of Ravi Zacharias

These will all give you sound content by som eoutstanding Christian scholars on a wide variety of topics.

Enjoy your search.

John
NZ

 

[bfly]

An excellent book to begin with is Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy. It is well reasoned, puts many important issues into some perspective and has a throrough bibliography.

There are three good web sites if you have broadband.

veritas.org - American
bethinking.org - British
rzim.org - the site of Ravi Zacharias

These will all give you sound content by som eoutstanding Christian scholars on a wide variety of topics.

Enjoy your search.

John
NZ

Happy Birthday

 

[hayzer]

Happy Birthday

Thanks everyone for giving me your input. I talked to my ex about this yesterday and shes going to give me some books to take a look at. I'm going to take this slow and I will be asking a lot more questions in the near future. Thanks again.

 

[Kris777]

hayzer, if you ever need anyone to talk to, you can pm me also.

 

[AvgJoe]

So what would u say i should do currently to be happy with my current state?

Find Jesus. Learn that He is the only way to God. Learn about the sacrifice that He made for you. Accept His sacrifice and gain salvation.

Following are some free ebooks that will help you learn about these things:

http://www.rbc.org/bible_study/discovery_series/topics/437.aspx

God
How Can I Know There Is A God?
Why Would A Good God Allow Suffering?

Christ
Religion Or Christ: What’s The Difference?
Why Did Christ Have To Die?

The Bible
Can I Really Trust The Bible?
What We Believe

Salvation
Does God Grade On A Curve? Passing Life’s Final Exam
What Is A Personal Relationship With God?

10 Reasons to Believe
http://www.rbc.org/bible_study/ten_reasons_to_believe/home.page

Various
http://www.apologeticspress.org/ebooks/
How Do You Know the Bible is From God
The Scientific Case For Creation
The Case for the Existence of God
In Defense of the Bible's Inspiration
My Sovereign, My Sin, My Salvation
Faith & Reason

I hope you find some of these ebooks helpful in your search for the Truth. God bless!

 

[cuprunsover]

Hayzer - wow you really sound like where I was at about 2 years ago. Obviously there is allot more to your life that you didn't get into from the 30k over view but truthfully my circumstance and line of thought was very very similar to what you described.

My brain thinks in terms of fact, logic, proof so this road will at times be very hard but here is a bit of truth I will share with you from my experience:

- God is faithful and knows how you are wired (important) so be honest with him and yourself, admit your skepticism accept his patience in this process, and simply ask for your heart to be softened and lead by the Spirit. BE WARNED though the obvious counter strike you will face is doubt from Satan, keep your eye on the prize and keep searching.

- another kernel of truth I believe and may help you is I think those that truly have to wrestle these issues through in the furnace of your mind and heart will emerge with a greater shield of faith than others, because again God knows how you are wired and knows that you will seek out the solutions to the cracks that threaten a breach.

- As for readings I began with CD's of the New Test. and went over and over the 4 gospels, Acts, and Romans a dozen times to get a strong base. Then added Strobel's books (Case for Christ, Case for Creator, Case for Faith) I would reccomend def the first 2...he has since seem to have fallen to capitalism and has a "case for....everything". But yes the first 2 are very good for what you are looking for.

Feel free to PM or e-mail me in your walk, it's fresh in my mind and would be happy to pound through any hurdles you get hung up on.

Bottom line throw "religion" out the window and seek a relationship with Christ - he is the keys to unlock the rest.

Be Blessed and be strong

 

[FallingWaters]

I agree with those who suggested Lee Strobel's books.